Getting To Know Us: Pissed Jeans & Father John Misty

In this week’s installment of Getting to Know Us, the weekly column in which we shamelessly extoll the many audible virtues of the artists playing the very FREESub Pop Silver Jubilee on Saturday, July 13 in Seattle’s Georgetown neighborhood. This week, we’re talking about the sonically disparate, but similarly remarkable live acts, the filthy Pissed Jeans and the effortlessly suave Father John Misty.

There’s a pretty visceral image that comes to mind the first time you hear the band name “Pissed Jeans”, and it’s pretty accurate. It’s not like the band GG Allins themselves when they perform, but it’s not like they don’t not GG Allin themselves, either—you know what I mean? Okay, it’s a little like this: they’re similar to GG Allin but with an utterly devastating sense of humor and with better songs. Also, with the Pissed Jeans, there’s no blood, urine or shit, only sweat. Upon further thought, the whole GG Allin analogy feels a little off…eh, I’m sticking with it. Watch the video from their megahit, “Bathroom Laughter” in the accompanying player. If that’s not enough, which is understandable when talking about Pissed Jeans, this live video portrayal of their song “False Jesii Part 2” is as worth your time as anything else you could be doing.

Father John Misty: singer, dancer, actor; Sub Pop’s own in-house triple threat. If there ever was an SP artist who could bring us an EGOT, it’s him (or Bret McKenzie from Flight of the Conchords who is halfway there). Chances are that you’ve seen him somewhere since Fear Fun, Father John Misty’s debut, came out in May 2012, as he and his band have performed on a number of TV shows, played countless festivals, and have toured extensively for well over a year now. Father John Misty performs like a preacher; through his huge, melodic voice, hypnotizing hip-shaking, white suits, decidedly better-than-average looks, perfectly suited (not to mention well dressed) band, you’ll come away a believer. There’s honestly not too many bands that are easier to enjoy. Watch the accompanying video for “Fun Times in Babylon”, track one off of Fear Fun to hear what we’re saying about.

So far, Getting to Know Us has acquainted/reacquainted its readers with Tad and Brothers of a Sonic Cloth, Jack Endino’s Earthworm, Shabazz Palaces, J Mascis, and now Pissed Jeans and Father John Misty. I know we’re blinded with bias, but this lineup is already near perfect and we’re only halfway through it. Oh, and it seems worth reminding you that entry to this festival is entirely free—we’re charging for falafels and beer, however.